Ra Paulette's caves

Cave Art

For the past 25 years Ra
Paulette has been scraping and shaping New Mexico's
sandstone into elegant, man-made caves.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Art

"Changing the world is a tall order," wrote Ra Paulette on his website. "Art doesn’t attempt to force change through direct action but to catalyze it by affecting the emotional basis from which change can occur."

For the last quarter-century - with only his dog for company - Paulette has been affecting emotions through his beautiful spaces carved out of New Mexico's high desert.

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Cave Digger

"Would you call a child
being obsessed with play?" replied Paulette. "You wouldn't use that
word 'obsessed.' You know, when you're doing something you love and are drawn
to it, you want to do it all the time."

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Cave Digger

Paulette uses only hand tools.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Art

Paulette calls them his "wilderness shrines" - massive in scale, poetic in their design.

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Cave Art

He has no degree in sculpting. He's not a structural engineer, and
he's not an architect. He is simply a man who found his passion.

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Cave Art

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Art

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Home

Paulette has dug about a dozen caves so far, most commissioned by those who want a
piece of livable art.

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Cave Home

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Home

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Home

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Home

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Art

A sculpted cave by Ra Paulette.

Credit: CBS News

Cave Art

Paulette showed Cowan his latest project. He calls it his magnum opus.

"This is the largest thing I've ever done," he said. "I'm taking all the things that I've learned in all the other caves over the years and finally getting an opportunity to experiment with gilding the lily."

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Cave Art

His plan is not only to carve, but paint these sandstone walls, creating what he hopes will be a healing retreat -- a community gathering place, complete with a waterfall and pool.

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View From Within

He doesn't get rich off of creating such wonderful living spaces. "No, it's the process,
you know?" Paulette said. "I'm having the time of my life."